Stressing on the need to reshape the education system in the country, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on January 17, 2018 said education is the key lever for transforming India.
“Education is the key lever for transforming India and there is a need to reshape the education system in the country,” Naidu said while addressing the sixth edition of ThinkEdu Conclave in Chennai.
He urged all who are involved in education sector to focus on improving access to pre-primary and elementary education and said high level of illiteracy can’t be tolerated any longer.
“I urge all who are involved in education sector to focus on improving access to pre-primary and elementary education of good quality,” he said, adding, “We cannot build a new India on a weak foundation. We cannot tolerate the high level of illiteracy.”
Saying that the country requires a curriculum that makes learners knowledgeable, skillful and responsible, he said the education system should be made to respond to the learning needs of youth and adults.
“India requires a curriculum that makes learners knowledgeable, skillful and responsible,” he said, adding, “We should make the system respond to the learning needs of youth and adults. The higher education system must focus on research and extending the frontiers of knowledge.”
The vice president further said that the education system must have essential guiding principles to help students become good human beings.
“Education is for employment, enlightenment and empowerment. Education is for evolution into a competent and caring individual. Education is for transformation of societal norms,” he said.
Also read: Education should be holistic, life-giving and character-building, says vice president
Naidu highlighted the importance of education for the development of communities and said it has the power to empower individuals and communities.
“Education is a powerful tool that empowers individuals and transforms communities. It can break the vicious cycles of poverty,” he said, adding, “It can enable a country like India with a large youth population, to grow.”
The vice president said that true education gives us the humility that makes us realize as to how much more there is to learn. This humility makes us lifelong learners and we grow as individuals, he added.
Saying that a good human resource development strategy is crucial to achieve sustainable development, he said without equipping the children, youth and adults with the required knowledge, skills and attitudes, it is not possible to become a developed nation.
Also read: Universities must produce multi-skilled students of tomorrow, says Vice President Naidu
Vice President of India speaks on Higher Education and educational reforms